Madison woman charged with embezzling from local business

FROM STAFF REPORTS

June 12, 2013

MADISON A Madison woman has been charged with felony embezzlement from her former employer, the Coal Valley News newspaper in Madison.Ashlea Nashell Hall, of 1st Street West in Madison, was charged with embezzling $1,400 during the month of April 2013 from her then-employer the Coal Valley News, located at 350 Main Street in downtown Madison, according to the criminal complaint filed in Boone County Magistrate Court.During the month of April 2013, Hall allegedly received 13 payments for the newspaper but did not deposit any of the money she collected in the bank, the police said.The crime was discovered by a manager at the newspaper through bank statements and was reported to the Madison Police Department on May 23, 2013, according to the police report.Hall, 24, was charged with one felony count of embezzlement.She was arraigned before Boone County Magistrate Charles Byrnside on Wednesday, June 12, 2013. Her bond was set at $20,000.Hall was taken to Southwestern Regional Jail in Holden.No other details about the case were released. However, since it is a felony charge, the Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Keith Randolph said the matter could go before a Boone County grand jury to seek an indictment against Hall.Indictments are merely formal charges that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty in a court of law.A felony embezzlement conviction carries a sentence of not less than 10 years, according to West Virginia Code 61-3-20.Hall has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges in the past, according to court documents at the Boone County Courthouse.Madison Police Corporal C.M. Shultz is the investigating officer, according to the criminal complaint.